BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council was split tonight (Aug. 17) over allowing homeowners to build and sell larger backyard cottages.
Backyard cottages — also known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs — will be allowed up to 1,200 square feet.
Council voted 4-3 to have the city’s Planning and Transportation Commission vet the idea of allowing homeowners to sell ADUs separately from the main home.
Mayor Vicki Veenker, Vice Mayor Greer Stone and Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims were ready tonight to allow ADUs to be sold separately.
“Why not be a little bit braver and a little bit bolder when it comes to experimenting with ADUs as a path to home ownership?” Lythcott-Haims said.
Councilmen Pat Burt, Ed Lauing and Keith Reckdahl wanted to go slower.
“Rushing through substantive changes from the dais without having (the commission’s) more thoughtful input is unnecessary,” Burt said.
Councilman George Lu ended up joining Burt, Lauing and Reckdahl, with the condition that the commission’s recommendation return to council by the end of the year.
Be the first to comment